Kannur : Sales of anti-diabetic drugs are soaring in Kerala. Reportedly, diabetic patients in the state bought medicines, including tablets and insulin, worth ₹ 2,000 crores within one year.
As per reports, medicines worth ₹ 15,000 crores were sold on an average during the last financial year and 15 per cent accounted for diabetic medicines.
In Kerala, cardiovascular drugs occupy first position in terms of sale, while anti-diabetic drugs are second in position. Also, diabetic complications are one of the major causes of heart diseases.
According to All Kerala Chemist and Druggist Association (AKCDA), the diabetic drug sales are increasing significantly each year.
In India, there has been a total sale of medicines worth ₹ 1.76 lakh crore in the last year. There has been a rapid increase in sales since the last 10 years.
Apparently, two types of modern insulins, metformin+glimepiride, metformin+vildagliptin and metformin+sitagliptin are the top five selling drugs.